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Ecuador remains 50-70% cheaper than the United States in 2026, but inflation and the Colombia trade war are nudging some prices higher. Here are the latest monthly budgets, healthcare costs, and price benchmarks for expats in Cuenca, Quito, and the coast.
Ecuador’s annual inflation rate hit a 20-month high in January 2026, driven almost entirely by a 20.79% spike in housing and utility costs after the government ended electricity and diesel subsidies. Food prices are rising too — plantains have roughly doubled, and the basic family basket now costs $822 a month.
Fresh figures from INEC show that Cuenca's registered foreign resident population has climbed to 28,000 -- a 15% year-over-year increase that cements the highland city's status as Ecuador's top expat destination.
